A reactor comprising: a hollow shell defining a hermetic
enclosure; a plurality of tube sheets disposed within said hermetic
enclosure, a first one of said plurality of tube sheets defining a first chamber; at least one
reaction tube each having a first end and an opposing second end, said first end being fixedly attached and substantially hermetically sealed to one end of said plurality of tube sheets and opening into said first chamber, the second end being axially unrestrained; each of said reaction tubes is comprised of an
oxygen selective
ion transport membrane with an
anode side wherein said
oxygen selective
ion transport membrane is formed from a
mixed conductor metal oxide that is effective for the transport of
elemental oxygen at elevated temperatures and at least a portion of said first and second
heat transfer sections are formed of
metal; each of said reaction tubes includes first and second
heat transfer sections and a reaction section, said reaction section disposed between said first and second
heat transfer sections; a reforming catalyst disposed about said
anode side of said
oxygen selective
ion transport membrane; a first process gas inlet; a second process gas inlet; and, a plurality of outlets.